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Duo indicted on murder charges in shooting death of toddler Londyn Samuels

Darnell Ramee, Keelen Armstrong.jpg

An Orleans Parish grand jury indicted Darnell Ramee, 19, and Keelen Armstrong, 24, on second-degree murder charges in the slaying of Londyn Samuels, who was shot to death while she was out with her babysitter in the 2800 block of South Saratoga Street on Aug. 29.
(Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office)

An Orleans Parish grand jury indicted Darnell Ramee, 19, and Keelen Armstrong, 24, on second-degree murder charges in the slaying of Londyn Samuels, who was shot to death while she was out with her babysitter in the 2800 block of South Saratoga Street on Aug. 29.

Londyn and her 18-year-old babysitter were walking in the street about 8:20 p.m. when shots rang out.

The babysitter, who was shot in the back, rushed inside a relative's nearby home with the child before someone called the police. She was rushed to the hospital with critical injuries and survived.

The bullet that tore through the babysitter's back struck and killed Londyn, a Harvey girl who family members described as a "happy baby who loved to dance."

Less than two weeks later another young girl's tragic death shocked the community -- 11-year-old Arabian Gayles was shot to death inside her Pigeon Town home on Sept. 2 - and activists and mourners flocked to the streets to demand an end to the senseless violence that too often claims the lives of children.

After being interviewed by detectives, the babysitter was able to identify Armstrong as one of her assailants. He was arrested Sept. 4 and Ramee was arrested one day later.